When Lewis & Clark were sent off to explore the interior
of the United States, they were given specific and detailed instructions
by Thomas Jefferson as to the records they were expected to keep. Neither
of these men was an expert in natural history, yet much of the information
they compiled was new to science. Most of us are not called upon
to explore a continent, but occasionally we might come across a detail
about the world around us that others may find of interest and when combined
with the observations of other might well prove to be important. The quality
of the details written affects how seriously the record is taken. Practicing
with field notes every day prepares the amatuer naturalist for the unexpected
event.

There
are 3 basic reasons to keep field notes:1. To help you remember the birds (and other events of
natural history) you encounter in the field and where you saw them.2. To document unsual or rare species (often with the
intent of submitting them for review and inclusion in a common data base).3. To document behaviors or study differences among individuals.

The degree to which you take field note keeping is a matter
of personal choice. Many people restrict their record keeping to lists
of birds seen. Others keep lists and a journal. The most rigorous method
for record keeping is the one prescribed by Grinnell
which includes journal entries, species accounts and specimen catalogs.

The goal of this page is to identify the minimum requirements
for documenting rare and unusual species. We will focus on what a review
committee would look for in submitted details. The references
at the end of this document will provide sources for other styles and methods
of record keeping.

Any
set of details should combine a written (narrative) description and drawings.
Nothing advances the cause of a species description like a sketch. Most
people will make the claim that they have no artistic capacity, but this
is generally beside the point. Even a very rough sketch of a bird's shape
that places basic colors and patterns in approximately the right places
goes a long way toward helping a reviewer evaluate the details of your
observation. Photographs are invaluable where possible, but in no way should
supplant written details and drawings. You can never be certain about how
a photograph will turn out and when you do know, it's usually too late.

Herman, Steven G. 1986. The
Naturalist's Field Journal: A manual of instruction based on a system established
by Joseph Grinnell. Buteo Books. Vermillion SD.

Copyrighted Material 1997 by Mike
Patterson. All rights reserved. No part of this material (text or images)
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without expressed written
permission from the author.